Fake Cop Scam Crumbles at “I’m Recording This”

One weekday morning late last year, while the wife of our magazine’s reporter was working from home, she suddenly received a high-pressure phone call from a man posing as a police officer.

Fake Police Officer: “This is the Toyama Prefectural Police. Are you [wife’s name]?”

Wife: “Yes, I am.”

Fake Police Officer: “You are suspected of being involved in a serious crime. If you don’t report to us immediately, you will be in big trouble.”

Wife: “Right now? I’m a bit busy, so could you send me the details in writing?”

Fake Police Officer: “What do you mean by in writing?”

The absurd outcome of this fraudulent call will be detailed in the full report later.

If you sense something suspicious

Cases of fraud involving individuals impersonating police officers have been on the rise.

On February 25, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Organized Crime Countermeasures Division rearrested Shohei Miyashiro, an unemployed man from Oiso Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, on suspicion of fraud. Miyashiro, who has already been indicted on fraud-related charges, has now been arrested for the 11th time. He is said to have repeatedly committed crimes as a “kakeko” (caller) and a coordinator in fraudulent schemes.

“The latest incident leading to his arrest occurred between October and November 2023. Miyashiro posed as an officer from Fukagawa Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and made fraudulent phone calls from Cambodia to a 75-year-old man living in Okinawa.

According to the audio data released by the police, the victim was threatened with claims that his bank account was being used by an organized crime group. He was then told that he needed to prepare money for an investigation and was made to transfer 32.32 million yen to a designated account. The released call recordings feature multiple individuals, including someone claiming to work at the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.” (National newspaper social affairs reporter)

So far, the police have arrested 24 members of the fraud group, including Miyashiro. The total amount of money allegedly stolen by the group is approximately 1.6 billion yen. According to the National Police Agency, the total damage caused by ore-ore fraud and similar scams involving impersonation of police officers reached approximately 45.3 billion yen in 2024 — 3.4 times the amount from the previous year.

Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa explains:

“Many of the perpetrators operate from overseas locations such as Cambodia, likely to avoid the risk of being arrested by Japanese authorities. Their method is a ‘theatrical-style’ scam where specific roles, such as police officers and lawyers, are assigned to different members. By involving multiple people, they attempt to convince victims that they are real police officers.

However, their knowledge of investigations is poor, and their methods are extremely sloppy. First of all, the police would never demand money over the phone. If you receive a sudden call from someone claiming to be a police officer and feel something is suspicious, respond by saying, ‘I will call back, so please give me your phone number, the name of the person in charge, and your department,’ or ‘May I record this call?’ Then, hang up. It is important not to let them control the pace of the conversation.”

The call was abruptly cut off

Let’s return to the conversation between the journalist’s wife and the fake police officer.

Wife: “If sending a written notice is difficult, I’ll record this since it’s important. Please start over from the beginning.”

Fake Police Officer: “R-Recording? Uh, um (stammering)”

Wife: “Can you tell me your name again?”

At that moment, the call was abruptly cut off.

“It was terrifying at first because he spoke in a forceful tone, saying, ‘Report immediately!’ However, he also sounded hesitant, like a part-time worker reading from a script. When I started asking questions, I could sense his panic. The phone number was one I had never seen before, possibly from overseas. If someone suddenly receives a call from the police claiming they are suspected of a crime, I can understand how elderly people, in particular, might panic.” (Journalist’s wife)

To reiterate, the police will never suddenly call and demand money. If you receive a suspicious call, do not handle it alone or comply with any requests. Hang up, consult with family or those around you, and, if necessary, report the situation to the actual police.